Plant & Be Counted! Marylanders Plant Trees

When it comes to decreasing our negative impact on the planet and reaping a whole litany of personal and public benefits, Maryland has an important new goal, one in which every Marylander can play an important role!

Citing the importance of trees to our environment, our quality of life—and even our pocketbooks—last fall Governor Martin O'Malley offered up a commitment and a challenge: The State of Maryland has committed to a program to plant one million new trees by 2011. And the Governor is challenging Maryland citizens to join him in reforesting our state by planting 50,000 trees this year.

"All things being equal, forests are by far our most strategically important natural resource," says Governor O'Malley. "In addition to protecting water quality, cleaning our air and providing wildlife habitat, one large tree can eliminate 5,000 gallons of stormwater runoff annually, and well placed trees can help reduce energy costs by 15 to 35 percent."

Obtain a coupon at - www.trees.maryland.gov - worth $25 off the purchase of one tree with a retail value of $50 or more at all participating retail nurseries and garden centers.

Through Marylanders Plant Trees—a new program under the Governor's Smart, Green & Growing initiative—State agencies are partnering with businesses, communities and citizens to help fund and plant new tree cover. The program offers Maryland citizens a $25 discount on the purchase of select trees through participating vendors, as well as an opportunity to calculate the benefits of the trees being planted and register them on line to help track our progress. Monthly prize drawings will be held for those who register.

Appropriately enough, the $480,000 being used to initially fund the program is part of a $4.6 billion regional settlement by a major power generator for clean air act violations. Provided through a cooperative agreement with the Office of the Attorney General and the Maryland Department of the Environment, this income from environmental fines must be used for environmental projects—like tree planting—that benefit air quality. For each $25 coupon redeemed, the State will reimburse participating businesses $20; those businesses have generously agreed to absorb the additional $5 value of the coupon.

So in addition to providing citizens with a terrific discount, this program will be putting money straight back into Maryland's economy—helping keep businesses going and workers employed.

From advice on what, where and how to purchase and plant, to printable coupons and calculating benefits, citizens will find just about everything they need at the Marylanders Plant Trees Website. Participants are asked to register and site the trees being planted on our interactive map, so we can track our progress.

Trees help clean the air, conserve soil and water and moderate temperature. They can improve property values by as much as 20 percent and reduce energy consumption.

Planting a tree is one more way that Maryland citizens can play an active role in creating a smarter, greener more sustainable future, for today and tomorrow.

"The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit."
-Nelson Henderson

Plant & Be Counted!
www.trees.maryland.gov

▪ Visit the Marylanders Plant Trees Website for help determining what kind of tree (or trees) to plant and where and how to plant them.
▪ Print your coupon (or clip the one from this page), and check the list of participating tree vendors to find one near you (all Maryland nurseries have been invited to participate in this program).
▪ After planting your trees, register them online, site them on the interactive map and calculate your benefits.
▪ Kick back and enjoy everything your new trees bring to your life… you'll have it made in the shade!!